Party appears split as it offers mixed messages on Brexit

LABOUR found itself in Brexit chaos again yesterday after Jeremy Corbyn guaranteed access to the single market and Tom Watson claimed the party had not ruled out a second referendum.

In his speech, Mr Corbyn said Labour would “guarantee unimpeded access to the single market” after leaving the union. But aides appeared to play down the remarks, claiming this applied only to the transition period.

It came as Mr Watson told journalists that Labour was “not ruling out” a second referendum. And at a fringe meeting on Tuesday Sir Keir Starmer, the party’s shadow Brexit secretary, said Labour would not back continued rule of the European Court of Justice, a position at odds with Mr Corbyn’s pledge on single market membership.